Category

Celebrating Community

Celebrating Community is year two of a five-year intergenerational program. Sessions within the program can be used independently from the whole. The theme for this year is sacraments as our celebration of, and response to, God's revelation.

Inter generational Session

Celebrating Community • FIRE

Eucharist: Supper & Sacrifice

In this session participants will understand what it means to "lay down one's life for a friend" and will consider the meaning of sacrifice, especially the Eucharist as sacrifice. • By Kathleen O'Connell Chesto

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Inter generational Session

Celebrating Community • FIRE

Festival of Tables

This session can be used as a review of the sacraments. Families or individuals are assigned a sacrament and will prepare a table and presentation ahead of time to share with the group. Descriptions and suggestions can be found on the Background sheet from the session "Celebrating Community: Reviewing Our Symbols." • By Kathleen O'Connell Chesto

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Inter generational Session

Celebrating Community • FIRE

Reviewing Our Symbols

In this session participants will review the symbols used in the sacraments. • By Kathleen O'Connell Chesto

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Inter generational Session

Celebrating Community • FIRE

Marriage: Living in Partnership

In this session participants will consider what is necessary to enable and sustain the commitment of two people in the sacrament of matrimony. • By Kathleen O'Connell Chesto

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Inter generational Session

Celebrating Community • FIRE

Holy Orders

In this session participants will examine the role of ordained leadership in the Church. • By Kathleen O'Connell Chesto

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Inter generational Session

Celebrating Community • FIRE

Living in a Broken World

In this session participants will become aware of the plight of those living with disabilities and suffering in our world. • By Kathleen O'Connell Chesto

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Inter generational Session

Celebrating Community • FIRE

Jesus as Healer

In this session participants will explore the stories of the New Testament in which Jesus healed the sick and deepened faith in the healing power of God. • By Kathleen O'Connell Chesto

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Inter generational Session

Celebrating Community • FIRE

Reconciliation as Healing

This session has two options. In the first, participants will be given a clearer concept of sin and forgiveness and will demonstrate the examination of conscience and celebrate Reconciliation. In the second, participants will understand the sacrament of Reconciliation and the process of reconciliation as ways in which we become more beautiful people. • By Kathleen O'Connell Chesto

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Inter generational Session

Celebrating Community • FIRE

Jesus Teaches Forgiveness

In this session participants will have the opportunity to experience and understand how Jesus treated sinners. • By Kathleen O'Connell Chesto

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Inter generational Session

Celebrating Community • FIRE

Year-long Program

The entire collection of sessions for year two of FIRE: Celebrating Community. • By Kathleen O'Connell Chesto

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Inter generational Session

Celebrating Community • FIRE

A Eucharistic Celebration

In this session participants will have the opportunity to have an in-depth experience of Eucharist. Preparation can be done as a separate session or as part of "Celebrating Community: Supper & Sacrifice." • By Kathleen O'Connell Chesto

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Inter generational Session

Celebrating Community • FIRE

Eucharist: Food for the Journey

In this session participants will be introduced to Eucharist as the third sacrament of initiation. It will help participants become aware that we bring all that we are to Eucharist, and ask that it be transformed into "bread for life." • By Kathleen O'Connell Chesto

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Inter generational Session

Celebrating Community • FIRE

Confirmed in the Spirit

In this session participants will understand Confirmation as a sacrament of "transition" and of "intensification." Participants will have the opportunity to explore what this sacrament could mean for them within the particular tradition of their church. • By Kathleen O'Connell Chesto

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Inter generational Session

Celebrating Community • FIRE

Baptism: Our Initial Commitment

In this session participants will understand that an initiation rite is meant to symbolize what we believe about the group into which we are being initiated. In baptism, we are initiated into the very life of Christ. • By Kathleen O'Connell Chesto

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Inter generational Session

Celebrating Community • FIRE

Beginning a Church

In this session participants will understand how the organizational structure of the Church might have developed and will focus on the divine presence of the Spirit in the people. • By Kathleen O'Connell Chesto

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Inter generational Session

Celebrating Community • FIRE

Families Share Symbols & Rituals

In this session participants will explore the power of symbol and ritual in our lives and know some of the symbols we share as a Catholic family. The symbols and rituals that families are asked to bring to this session are described in the Take Home sheet from "Celebrating Community: We Belong to a Family." • By Kathleen O'Connell Chesto

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Inter generational Session

Celebrating Community • FIRE

We Belong to a Family

In this session participants will understand that families share certain characteristics and that family is the normal way in which God prepares for each of our births. • By Kathleen O'Connell Chesto

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Inter generational Session

Celebrating Community • FIRE

Covenanting

This session is meant to be an opening session for a year of gatherings. Participants will dedicate a symbol for their community to be used throughout the year. • By Kathleen O'Connell Chesto

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Author

Kathleen O'Connell Chesto

Dr. Kathleen O'Connell Chesto is a well-known author and speaker on family spirituality who draws on her many experiences as a wife and mother. She holds a doctor of ministry degree from Hartford Seminary and a master of arts in religious studies from St. Joseph College in West Hartford.